Guided tour of Loreto – province of Ancona
Resting on a hill dominating the sea and encircled by 16th-century walls, Loreto Resting on a hill dominating the sea and encircled by 16th-century walls, Loreto is famous for housing the Sanctuary of the Basilica della Santa Casa, since 1294, built for the protection of that which, according to tradition, is considered the house where the Virgin Mary lived, the Casa della Madonna. Rich in fine works of art, it is among the most famous houses dedicated to Mary, the destination of numerous pilgrimages.
To visit with a Loreto tour guide:
Piazza della Madonna, dominated by the façade of the Basilica, it is surrounded by the beautiful Palazzo Apostolico. In the middle of the square is the Fountain of the Virgin, while in front of the Basilica is the bronze monument to Pope Sixtus V;
Basilica of the Holy House, built over time from 1468 onwards, famous architects, like Bramante, Giuliano and Antonio da Sangallo, Andrea Sansovino and Luigi Vanvitelli, the latter author of the Bell tower. Dominated by the 16th-century dome, The Basilica demonstrates a grandiose interior, enriched by numerous chapels frescoed over centuries by many, various artists, among whom we recall Luca Signorelli and Melozzo da Forlì. In the centre we find the Holy House, covered by the amazing marble sacello (chapel), produced following the design of and completely covered in bas-reliefs of Mary and statues of sibyls and prophets, work of the finest sculptors of the 16th century. Not to be missed is the majestic Sala del Tesoro, entirely decorated in stucco and fresco works by Cristoforo Roncalli, called “Il Pomarancio” and is considered to be the Sistine Chapel of the Marche.
Ancient Treasure of the Holy House Museum, the wide-ranging collection is notable for its series of paintings by Lorenzo Lotto as well as for the collection of Urbino ceramics.
Near Loreto we advise the guided tour of the Conero Riviera with its renowned tourist locations of Sirolo, splendid Medieval small town and Numana, an ancient Greek marketplace. The area is famous for wild moscioli, mussels or molluscs, caught in the waters around Portonovo.
